Movie Reviews
Jun. 19th, 2005 02:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
baronessekatI spent this weekend watching DVD's that I rented.
2004, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney (Best Suporting Actress 2004), Chris O'Donnel, Oliver Platt.
I enjoyed this movie a great deal. It follows the life of Alfred Kinsey, the famed Sex researcher, in a very well presented way. I have always loved Liam Neeson's work and he once again gives a great performance showing Kinsey's intensity in his pursuit of knowledge. I liked how he showed how Kinsey really was a frank, blunt researcher. Asshole at times comes to mind as the movie shows him asking questions of the interview subjects, but at the same time giving support when the topics come to rather uncomfortable subjects.
Laura Linney more than deserved her Academy Award for her portrayal of Mac, Kinsey's wife. She made me believe that she was his wife and not some "dream" character. She supports her husband's research but shows the hurt and pain she feels when he comes to her the first time he is unfaithful to their marriage, which also happens to be homosexual in nature.
All in all this was a good movie and I highly recommend it.
2004 Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce.
Another good movie. I have always been a fan of Cole Porter and this movie presents his work wonderfully. Kline plays Porter. It starts out with Porter and Gabe (Pryce) looking back at Porter's life as if it were some great stage show.
I never knew Kevin Kline could sing, but sing he does. And while he will never be a great virtuoso, I can believe him in the role of composer.
Ashley Judd is beautiful, sexy, and magnificent as Porter's wife Linda. She balances out Kline just like Linda balanced out Cole. there was tension when there needed to be tension, loving and tender in all the right moments.
At first I found the presentation as a stage show but not a bit strange but as the movie progresses it feels right and perfect for a format.
if you like Cole Porter I think you would like this movie.
2004 Hank Azaria, Zooey Deschanel, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Kelly Preston, Ray Ramano, Rip Torn, Debra Winger
Bizarre. That's the only word I can think to describe it. while it's touted as a comedy, I don't think I could truly say it is one. It's a dark comedy if it is. A comedic study of one family as they come together for the father's (Rip Torn) funeral. The granddaughter (Deschanel) is asked by the grandmother (Laurie) to write and give the eulogy and she goes around asking her highly, highly dysfunctional family members about the man and does not really get much out of them.
Rather than looking at how they interacted with Dad, the movie is about the grown kids interacting with each other during this trying time.
There are some very funny interactions between the all-star cast but again, comedy is not what I'd call this movie. I really don't think there is a genre for this film.
It's not something I'm going to actively seek again, but in the end I was not disappointed with it.
2004, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney (Best Suporting Actress 2004), Chris O'Donnel, Oliver Platt.
I enjoyed this movie a great deal. It follows the life of Alfred Kinsey, the famed Sex researcher, in a very well presented way. I have always loved Liam Neeson's work and he once again gives a great performance showing Kinsey's intensity in his pursuit of knowledge. I liked how he showed how Kinsey really was a frank, blunt researcher. Asshole at times comes to mind as the movie shows him asking questions of the interview subjects, but at the same time giving support when the topics come to rather uncomfortable subjects.
Laura Linney more than deserved her Academy Award for her portrayal of Mac, Kinsey's wife. She made me believe that she was his wife and not some "dream" character. She supports her husband's research but shows the hurt and pain she feels when he comes to her the first time he is unfaithful to their marriage, which also happens to be homosexual in nature.
All in all this was a good movie and I highly recommend it.
2004 Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce.
Another good movie. I have always been a fan of Cole Porter and this movie presents his work wonderfully. Kline plays Porter. It starts out with Porter and Gabe (Pryce) looking back at Porter's life as if it were some great stage show.
I never knew Kevin Kline could sing, but sing he does. And while he will never be a great virtuoso, I can believe him in the role of composer.
Ashley Judd is beautiful, sexy, and magnificent as Porter's wife Linda. She balances out Kline just like Linda balanced out Cole. there was tension when there needed to be tension, loving and tender in all the right moments.
At first I found the presentation as a stage show but not a bit strange but as the movie progresses it feels right and perfect for a format.
if you like Cole Porter I think you would like this movie.
2004 Hank Azaria, Zooey Deschanel, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Kelly Preston, Ray Ramano, Rip Torn, Debra Winger
Bizarre. That's the only word I can think to describe it. while it's touted as a comedy, I don't think I could truly say it is one. It's a dark comedy if it is. A comedic study of one family as they come together for the father's (Rip Torn) funeral. The granddaughter (Deschanel) is asked by the grandmother (Laurie) to write and give the eulogy and she goes around asking her highly, highly dysfunctional family members about the man and does not really get much out of them.
Rather than looking at how they interacted with Dad, the movie is about the grown kids interacting with each other during this trying time.
There are some very funny interactions between the all-star cast but again, comedy is not what I'd call this movie. I really don't think there is a genre for this film.
It's not something I'm going to actively seek again, but in the end I was not disappointed with it.
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De-lovely
Date: 2005-06-19 01:29 pm (UTC)Re: De-lovely
Date: 2005-06-19 10:59 pm (UTC)Klein, however, stood out in that role and owned the show.
I will forever adore Rondstadt for the "He loves me" duet, as her purity of tone and focus surpass anything but a jackhammer.
When I think of the visuals from this movie, I am horrified. But when I think of the theater arts that are put into the vocal performances and the choreography of the ensemble numbers (especially the 'everybody sneaking up on everyone else' scene) put me in mind of the best stagings of G&S and draw the line for community performers. This is a lesson plan that says, 'if you can't pull this off, go back to Rodgers and Hammerstein'.
In the movie, everyone may be embarassing, but one must watch it not as a movie, but as a primer that teaches local theater groups how to cast the operetta. The Chief Constable, The Father, The Pirate King, The Soprano Lead, The Bloody Tenor... these are all theater archetypes that need to be a bit too much to let the role read in a live theater performance. The great rolling eyes and Al Jolson moves are hidious in a movie, but would be perfect for a stage presentation.
Ack, I'm being all accepting and appreciative. I need to go snark something before my soul looses its structural integrity.
John Williams is an ass.
Okay, I feel better.
Sorry, I'll do a version of this rant in my own journal soon and leave innocent bystanders to remain blissfully innocent.